Published in Psychophysiology, the study is the first to look at whether there would be benefits to brain health during passive exercise where a person’s limbs are moved via an external force – in this case, cycle pedals pushed by a mechanically driven flywheel.
During a 20-minute session with healthy young adults, the team assessed executive function at baseline, before participants exercised, and compared the data post exercise. They found an improvement in executive function of the same magnitude for both the passive and the active exercise conditions, without an increase in heart rate or diastolic blood pressure.
Previous research has documented that active exercise, where a person activates their muscles of their own volition, can increase blood flow to the brain and improve executive function. Passive exercise also increases blood flow to the brain, but this is significantly less documented.
“In terms of passive exercise, we could only hypothesize the outcome because this type of research had not been done before,” said Matthew Heath, professor in kinesiology and supervisor of the study.
“The potential impact for people with limited or no mobility could be profound. If done regularly, the increase in blood flow to the brain and resultant improvement in executive function will, optimistically, become a compounding effect that has a significant impact on cognitive health and executive function,” Heath explained.
Further study could be improved by looking at whether the benefit to executive function persists at longer intervals of time post-exercise, as well as by the inclusion of more diverse participants (those who are older or health-compromised, for example).
Heath and team see great potential in using passive exercise in long-term care homes or in rehabilitation programs for people recovering from musculoskeletal injuries, who cannot perform weight bearing exercise.
The study was led by master’s student Mustafa Shirzad, and co-authored by graduate students Benjamin Tar, Connor Dalton, James Van Riesen, and Michael Marsala. Heath was the corresponding author.
Passive movements are exercises that we recommend to people who cannot move their legs themselves. This is because, when legs become paralysed, the joints and muscles may become stiff and fixed into one position through lack of movement.
Why is it important to do these exercises?
By putting your joints through a range of movements regularly you will:
- Prevent / reduce stiffness and painful joints.
- Increase circulation and decrease swelling.
- Ensure you keep a useful range of movement to allow you to get dressed, sit correctly in your wheelchair and perform other functional activities.
How long will it take me to do the exercises?
The exercises described in this leaflet do not take long to do and can easily be fitted into your day at a time to suit you. You should do them as well as any other exercises that your physiotherapist has given you.
How often should I do these exercises?
You should aim to go through the full range of exercises about 5 to 10 times each, 2 or 3 times a week. The movements should be slow and rhythmical but be careful not to over-stretch.
These exercises will help to keep a range of useful movement, but don’t forget; standing, lying prone (on your stomach) and even the daily movement that your limbs are put through as you get dressed will help too.
Is there a risk in doing these exercises?
Be careful not to over-stretch when doing these exercises as it may cause damage or injury to joints or muscles.
What should I do if I think muscles have been over-stretched?
If you think that you have over-stretched, then stop the exercises and seek advice from your GP or physiotherapist.
Original Research: Closed access.
“Passive exercise increases cerebral blood flow velocity and supports a postexercise executive function benefit” by Mustafa Shirzad et al. Psychophysiology
